By Eamonn Ryan
LG Electronics South Africa has unveiled its latest breakthroughs in HVAC technology at a landmark product launch event held in October 2025. The event brought together leading industry players, contractors, and distributors for an immersive first look at LG’s newest innovations. Through live demonstrations and presentations from the company’s leadership team, attendees experienced how LG’s next-generation HVAC solutions are evolving to meet the rising demand for intelligent, energy-efficient and sustainable air-conditioning systems across southern Africa. This is Part 2 of a three-part series.
The LG Multi V1 on display at the launch. © RACA Journal
The centrepiece of the launch was the presentation by Andries Bekker, Eco Solutions General manager at LG Electronics South Africa, who unveiled the Multi VI – the sixth generation in LG’s Multi V line, now enhanced with advanced artificial intelligence.
Bekker, who has spent a decade with LG in both technical and managerial capacities, described the Multi VI as a milestone in the company’s evolution. “The Multi VI is more than an upgrade. It represents a new way of thinking about HVAC – where systems can learn, predict and adapt automatically to their environment,” he said.
At its core is the AI Engine, a self-learning control system that continuously monitors environmental conditions, occupancy patterns and weather forecasts to optimise performance in real time. “With AI SmartCare, the system analyses external weather data and internal load variations and automatically fine-tunes operation. This means no wasted energy, reduced wear on components, and consistent indoor comfort – all achieved without human intervention,” explained Bekker.
The AI Management function also enables self-learning group settings. In a space with multiple indoor units, the system identifies which areas face higher thermal loads – for instance, sun-exposed façades – and redistributes cooling or heating capacity accordingly.
Built for the continent’s climates
Bekker was quick to address a common industry concern – that high-end HVAC systems are often not designed for Africa’s diverse climatic conditions. “This product has been tested right here in South Africa for a full year. We wanted to ensure it performs as efficiently in Durban’s humidity as it does in Johannesburg’s winter mornings,” he said.
The Multi Vi achieves its performance gains through several engineering enhancements. It offers capacities of up to 26 horsepower per unit, scalable to 96 horsepower when linked in a four-unit combination. A new three-circuit heat exchanger and upgraded defrost technology allow faster and more effective defrosting, particularly valuable in regions with wide temperature fluctuations. Despite being slightly larger in size than the Multi V5, the new model is lighter in weight and delivers a higher energy efficiency ratio (EER).
Operating ranges have also expanded: cooling from -15°C to 52°C and heating from -30°C to 18°C ambient conditions. These wide operating limits ensure reliability across South Africa’s varied geography: from coastal installations to elevated inland sites.
All outdoor units now feature LG’s proprietary Black Fin coating, which protects coils, panels and fasteners from corrosion. This anti-corrosive finish is standard, not optional, making the units particularly suited to coastal and industrial environments.
Integrated smart diagnostics and control
Serviceability has also been improved. The AI Smart Diagnosis function analyses system performance data instantly, identifying potential issues before they cause downtime. “What used to take an hour of on-site testing can now be done in minutes,” Bekker noted.
The Multi Vi connects seamlessly to LG’s AC Smart 5 controller, which allows facility managers and technicians to monitor, control and adjust parameters remotely. The system supports Wi-Fi connectivity, eliminating the need for hardwired connections, and includes a built-in black box function that stores up to six months of operating history. This makes fault tracing simpler and more accurate.
Environmental responsibility remains a key focus. The Multi Vi is fully compatible with R32 refrigerant, which has a significantly lower global warming potential (GWP) than traditional refrigerants. The system also integrates with LG’s Hydro Kit for heat recovery, enabling waste heat from cooling operations to be used for domestic hot water, underfloor heating or pool heating – reducing both operational cost and carbon footprint.
To meet evolving safety standards, the Multi Vi introduces an enhanced refrigerant leakage detection and mitigation system. Depending on configuration, the system can automatically shut down affected indoor units, isolate circuits using third-party actuators, or deactivate the entire outdoor unit if required. This feature, Bekker noted, aligns with new regulatory requirements emerging in markets such as Botswana, where hotel projects increasingly demand built-in refrigerant leak safety controls.
Performance that pays for itself
While AI integration inevitably raises initial equipment costs, LG’s testing indicates that the investment pays back rapidly through energy savings. Based on regional field data, the Multi Vi achieved an ROI within six months in Durban, seven months in Cape Town and eight months in Johannesburg.
“This is not theoretical modelling. These are real installations we’ve monitored, proving that energy savings translate directly into financial returns,” said Bekker.
The launch also introduced LG’s AC Smart 5 control system – the heart of its intelligent building management ecosystem. The platform enables remote access to system diagnostics, load balancing and energy tracking. It supports BACnet and Modbus protocols, allowing seamless integration with third-party building management systems (BMS).
For contractors and facilities managers, the ability to monitor CO₂ sensors, fans and external equipment through LG’s platform simplifies commissioning and long-term maintenance. “Everything can be controlled from one point – it’s a fully connected environment,” Bekker added.
“True innovation is not about adding complexity – it’s about creating comfort, efficiency and reliability through intelligence. With Multi Vi, we’re giving our customers exactly that: a system that thinks for itself and performs for them,” said Bekker.
